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'Speaker Boehner'? Republicans Sell Access In Hopes Of Winning Back House


House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) with Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the background (D-CA)

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House Republicans are attempting to nationalize the fall elections in hopes of winning back control of the chamber, with a new effort to raise money called Boehner for Speaker. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has a lot at stake in November, and he's going all-in.

Donors giving big bucks or helping to raise at least $100,000 for the National Republican Congressional Committee will get "meetings with Boehner, calls from senior aides with updates on the campaign and 'VIP access to all events, including roundtables, briefings, breakout discussions and interactive panel discussions," according to Politico, which obtained some materials Boehner's office was shopping around for the new campaign.

Check out the documents here and here. Politico reports:

Boehner convened a meeting of top Republican lobbyists at the National Republican Congressional Committee last Thursday to enlist them in the cause and armed them with slick, presidential-level brochures and fundraising materials making the case for putting him in the speaker's chair.

Here's an image from the new Web site, which includes a link to "boot Nancy":



You can buy a "Boehner for Speaker" mouse pad for $10 or coffee mug for $15.

The site claims the campaign's purpose "is to help elect a new Republican Majority in Congress by contrasting our agenda of reform with the liberal, jobs-killing agenda of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats running for Congress as part of her team."

The Republicans say that on Jan. 4 House members will choose their speaker and "the tone and direction of Congress for at least the next two years will be determined. We want Americans to know what's at stake."

The disclaimer:

Support provided to the NRCC through Boehner for Speaker will be used to assist the campaigns of Republican nominees for Congress with the exclusive goal of electing a Republican Majority in the United States House of Representatives in 2010.

The Boehner materials also tell his personal story. It's a similar effort to what Pelosi (D-CA) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did in 2006 before they ousted Republicans from power. The Democrats used SpeakerPelosi.com to outline the Democratic agenda and Pelosi's narrative as the Italian Catholic grandmother who would be the first female speaker of the House.

We told you about GOP efforts to sell the fall elections as a chance to "fire Pelosi," and the party is hanging a bright red banner with those words above the entrance to the RNC and NRCC building on Capitol Hill. Boehner has been stepping up his own critique of President Obama and House Democrats, and putting his foot in his mouth at times.

As the DCCC's executive director Jon Vogel told me in an interview over the weekend, the Democrats will say Republicans are getting excited over something that won't happen.

Watch:


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July 29, 2010 9:22 AM   

Who the hell is that excited about boehner that they will buy a mousepad with his name all over it?

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July 29, 2010 9:42 AM    in reply to Viva!America!

Well, judging from the amount of related spam that seems to be flying around, I'd say there are a lot of Americans who will do anything to get a Boehner. ;)

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July 29, 2010 1:44 PM    in reply to Viva!America!

Me. I'd like to add it to my collection of Loser Memorabilia... like one of those Celtics '2010 NBA Champions' T-shirts that must be floating around somewhere...

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July 29, 2010 2:11 PM    in reply to Viva!America!

I'd buy the toilet paper.

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July 29, 2010 10:19 AM   

Pay the Boner $100K in contributions, get $100M back in taxes. That's the Republican economic plan.

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July 29, 2010 10:45 AM   

It's a similar effort to what Pelosi (D-CA) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did in 2006...

Is it similar in that there was an organized campaign to take back the majority? Or did Pelosi et. al. outright quote big business a price for access?

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July 29, 2010 11:28 AM   

Hmm... mousepad or coffee mug? Decisions, decisions.

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July 29, 2010 12:10 PM   

"agenda for reform": I don't recall Boner offering any such agenda. The only thing he and his buddies have promised is a total shutdown of the legislative process and an endless series of investigations.

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July 29, 2010 12:17 PM   

So, Clinton gets raked over the coals for letting big donors spend a night in the Lincoln bedroom, but Boehner flat out sells access and that's okay. IOKIYAR, indeed

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July 29, 2010 12:33 PM   

The GOBP was this bad arrogant about selling access back when they th9ought their majority was permanent. They haven't even taken back the majority yet and they're acting like this. If they get a shock on election night, it will be sweet to see their disbelieving faces.

Then the fun will be what conspiracy theory they come up with to explain how the Democrats stole the election.

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July 29, 2010 1:10 PM   

Can people just cut out the middleman and send him a box of booze.

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July 29, 2010 1:33 PM   

What can I get for a carton of Camels and bottle of bourbon?

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July 29, 2010 1:33 PM   

So if I buy a $100,000 worth of political Viagra in order to get a Boehner, does he stay bought?

And what if I get a political hard-on that lasts more than six years and my Boehner doesn't stick around? Do I get some money back?

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July 29, 2010 1:36 PM   

The Boehner materials also tell his personal story

Why would I want that? I'm pretty sure its the standard 'white privileged kid's daddy gets him a job, kid gets fired from used car lot, becomes sleazy politician'.(see Bush, George W.)

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July 29, 2010 1:53 PM   

Well at least they are admitting that he is a prostitute...now they are just negotiating price!

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July 29, 2010 1:56 PM   

You have to pay to be considered a citizen in the Republican's world. Can't pay? no health care for you, no representation, nothing.

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July 29, 2010 1:58 PM   

Sunless tan cream isn't getting any cheaper. That healthy orange glow is the key to his success.

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July 29, 2010 2:02 PM    in reply to SeattleJoe

Oompa-loompa ain't cheap.

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July 29, 2010 2:26 PM   

Ok, so I'm a noob. Can corporations just plunk down millions of dollars for Boner for Speaker or is there some kind of sane regulation in this plutocracy? Seriously.

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July 29, 2010 3:24 PM   

The super high level donors get meetings at the tanning salon.

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July 29, 2010 4:01 PM   

Hey, at least the goopers are nationalizing the elections. Why can't the Dems?

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July 29, 2010 5:47 PM   

Boehner could be the first Orange American to be House Speaker. Top priority-- repeal the Tan Man Tax!

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July 30, 2010 3:49 AM   

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August 6, 2010 6:43 PM   

When I saw Michael Steele's "Fire Pelosi" campaign in the headline of another website, I immediately thought that it would be funny if the Dems hired an orange Boehner look-alike to shadow the Repub's campaign, to remind everyone what the alternative to Pelosi would be. Looks as if I was either wrong about his appeal, or the Repubs are making a mistake.

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